The document discusses lighting techniques and camera shots commonly used in horror films. Low-key lighting with spotlights is used to focus on characters. Common characters include spiritualists who deal with paranormal behavior. Old archives and photos set scenes. Films discussed include Poltergeist, My Bloody Valentine, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Panic Room, Buried, Shutter Island, 28 Weeks Later, Silence of the Lambs, and Dracula. Common techniques are low-key lighting, close-ups of victims or characters' facial expressions, and shot angles that make villains appear threatening or the environment feel confining.

1. Assignment 9: Individual
Research
Dean Leavy

2. Low-key lighting is used with spot lights, to focus
on characters
Spiritualists are common characters who come and get rid of
paranormal behavior
Old archives and photos are shown in these films

3. Poltergeist 2015
The spirits take control of the families
possessions in order to try and kill them
The spirits target the kids first, rather than the
adults
Family move to a new 'haunted' home, unaware
of the spirit that lives there

4. My Bloody Valentine
Very visual gory images of victims in the horror sub-genre
of slasher
Stereotypically a women is being tortured by the
protagonist
Low key lighting and extreme close up of the victims

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Abandoned location. Lit by fire only giving off a
low key lighting feel
The killer/monster has disturbing
features which are abnormal
Low-angle shot to
give the monster a
higher status and
making them more
scary

6. Panic Room
Two protagonists are both women who are in danger from
the male antagonists
High angle shot on the antagonists – showing how big and
threatening they are
Over the shoulder shot to show
how close the villain is to the
victims, who are seen to be
terrified

7. Buried
Close ups to show the grueling conditions
the character has to face
Birds eye view showing how much of a
confided space the character is in
Lighter used to highlight the characters facial
expressions and the tight space he is in

8. Shutter Island
Medium shot shows the destruction in the room with
the characters centrally framed
Close up shows the characters fear of the spirit and creates
tension for the audience

9. 28 Weeks Later
Medium/long shot allow the audience to see the
destruction of the street and how its deserted
The abandoned city is a convention of zombie/virus
as the virus has taken over the human race

10. Silence of the Lambs
The mask shows how dangerous the Hannibal
Lector and how he has to be restrained
Medium shot allows us to see the gun and the
petrified facial expression clearly
Low-angle of Hannibal
Lector, this asserts his
dominance

11. Dracula
Close up of the blood, teeth and eye balls which are all
abnormal features
Stereotypical for the victim to be a women and a
'damsel in distress'